Content People

PR: Powerful. Mysterious. Often Misunderstood.

This week, we get a peek behind the curtain of earned media. I talked with Elise Labau and Florencia Cavallo, the cofounders of Stories Consulting - a very cool PR consultancy.

Stories Consulting primarily works with female-founded, mission-driven brands. Think: start-ups in the lifestyle, beauty, wellness, fashion, and women's health space.

These are the women who get clients placed in little ol’ outlets like Refinery29, Vogue, New York Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and more.

Our convo covered:

• How they nurture and respect their partnership.
• Why they believe in a “less is more” approach to storytelling and building brands
• Scope creep, people pleasing, and how to say no to being a client’s personal shopper.
• One of the reasons that big agency teams often fail where boutique firms thrive. (Hint: It’s about established team dynamics).
• Why you want to build a moat around your brand. 🏰
• Why good PR plans set 6 and 12-month KPIs - rather than 30, 60 or 90-day benchmarks.
• The advice they’d give all new founders.

Elise and Florencia - it was such a treat to chat with you. Thanks for your time and your great advice.

Follow Content People on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/contentpeoplepod/

Follow Meredith on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-farley/

Follow Elise on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elise-labau-topaloglu/

Follow Florencia on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/florencia-cavallo-59a12a52/

Check out Stories Consulting on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/storiesconsulting__/

Check out the Stories Consulting Website
https://www.storiesconsulting.com/

Buckle up, cosmic travelers. 🚀🌎

On this week's journey through the Content People galaxy, we've onboarded an extraordinary navigator: @Felicity Wild, our Captain and Chief Tone of Voice Nerd.

Felicity's the creative force behind Brand Language Lab - a brand language consultancy company.

Think: Copywriting consultancy. But also an immersive, branded experience modeled on a 1970s sci-fi adventure.

In this convo, which is a bit more focused and specific than other eps, Felicity and I dive deep into the origins of her imaginative branding and website.

It’s … out of this world. (I'm done! I'm done.)

Our convo covers:

🪐 The brand’s origin story.
🪐 How a short break from client work gave Felicity the time and energy to reimagine the business's next chapter.
🪐 The creative potential of really long walks.
🪐 Turning to art for inspo (rather than competitors).
🪐 A healthy reframing of personal branding. And why it doesn’t need to be so personal.

Follow Content People or Meredith:
Content People Newsletter: https://meredithfarley.substack.com/
Meredith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-farley/

Felicity's Website: https://www.brandlanguagelab.com/
Felicity on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicity-wild/
Felicity's Newsletter: https://www.brandlanguagelab.com/lab-notes
Felicity's Course: https://brandlanguagelab.podia.com/

What's it like to know that Hozier (yeah, that Hozier) read your book?

Pretty great. A little surreal and intense.

How do I know that?

Because in this week’s Content People ep, we talked to @Andrea Isabelle Lucas. And I asked her.

Andrea’s the owner and founder of Barre & Soul, a beloved, multi-million dollar Barre & Yoga studio franchise in and around the Boston area.

With Barre & Soul, Andrea’s created a devoted client base, a beautiful brand, and a cool, welcoming studio experience. (I know that because I did my Yoga Teacher Training there back in 2016. 🧘💜)

Andrea’s also an author (her book - the one Hozier read? - is Own It All), and a speaker who’s shared the stage with folks like Michelle Obama and Billie Jean King.

I’m a little exhausted just writing this intro. I won’t even get into the fact that she’s been featured in places like the BBC, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Women’s Health, the Huffington Post, and Boston Magazine.

Just, like, look her up. Andrea’s a powerhouse. (And low-key one of my style icons.)

Our conversation covered:

• The light-bulb moment that totally changed the course of her career.
• How Andrea arrived at Barre & Soul’s iconic brand look.
• Her advice around taking the biggest risk you can stomach. Even if it’s just a baby step.
• The moves (and risks) that helped her business succeed in such a competitive space.
• An impactful mindset shift that empowered Andrea to rethink boutique pricing.
• How it feels to see photos of Hozier reading your book. (Intense.)
• An incredible book rec - The War of Art. (Which, btw, I’m already halfway through.)

And a lot more. This was really one of my favorite convos yet.

Hope you like it.

Check it out - link in comments ⤵️

[LINK OUT]

For Show Notes:

Follow the Content People newsletter:

https://meredithfarley.substack.com/

Follow Meredith on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-farley/

Find Andrea:

Own It All:
https://www.amazon.com/Own-All-Only-Person-Change/dp/1633538540

Barre & Soul:
https://www.barresoul.com/

Andrea’s site and sign-up for her newsletter:
https://andreaisabellelucas.com/

The War of Art: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+war+of+art&hvadid=616931716525&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9002004&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=2173763426570252275&hvtargid=kwd-342894155&hydadcr=24661_13611822&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_6k2tqkpngm_e

Follow Andrea on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/andreaisabellelucas/?hl=en

This is a really fun one.

Jessica Lanyadoo is a renowned Humanistic Astrologer, Psychic Medium, tarot reader, and Animal Communicator. She's developed a huge following and fan base - and she was a really wonderful Content People guest. 

Jessica and Meredith talk about:

Jessica's career path in astrology, how she discovered her psychic abilities, what it was like to carve out a career path - and a business - in such a unique space, and what it means to show up authentically online. 

A bit about Jessica:

Jessica started her private practice in San Francisco in 1994 and has met with thousands of people across the globe for one-on-one, couples, and business consultations. She's the host of the top-ranking astrology and advice show, Ghost of a Podcast, and she was the co-host of TLC’s digital show Stargazing. Her first book, Astrology For Real Relationships, published by Penguin Random House, came out in 2020.

Did you like hanging out with us?

Sign up for the Content People newsletter here: https://meredithfarley.substack.com/
Follow Meredith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-farley/

Follow Jessica:

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica_lanyadoo/?hl=en
On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicalanyadoo?lang=en
Her Website: https://www.lovelanyadoo.com/about
Her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JessicaLanyadoo
Read Her Book: Astrology for Real Relationships https://www.amazon.com/Astrology-Real-Relationships-Understanding-Along/dp/1984856243

Welcome to S2E12 of Content People

This week we talk with Content Creator Clara of ColorMeLoverly.

You might know Clara from her TikTok, where she’s earned a following of more than 220K her fictional PR agency has amassed a trove of high-profile but problematic clients.

See her advice to Joe Jonas, for example.

Or check out Clara’s fantastic substack Hmm, That's Interesting - which has more than 12K subscribers - where she digs a little deeper into the cultural mores and nuances behind the hot-button issues of the day.
Hmm, That's Interesting

Clara’s also on Instagram and has a delightful literary podcast called One More Chapter with Clara and Clare.

Our convo covered:
- How Clara grew her following on TikTok

- What sparked the idea for her now-famous PR parody

- Why her newsletter is currently her favorite medium

- How “feeling cringe” is totally normal when you’re trying something new - and how she deals with it.

- Why promoting your work and content can feel harder for women than for men.

Subscribe to the Content People newsletter here.
Follow Meredith on LinkedIn here.

I loved getting to chat with Clara. Hope you enjoy the convo or find it useful.

We chat with @Charlotte Palermino: CEO and co-founder of @Dieux Skin. TikTok’s skincare fairy godmother ✨ An all-around absolute force.

If you’re in the beauty or skincare industry, or just around on TikTok, you know Charlotte.

She pioneered and grew Cosmopolitan’s Snapchat. Then she moved in-house to Snapchat, before co-founding Dieux Skin - a brand beloved by celebs from Hailey Bieber to Harrison Ford. (Yes, for real.)

Our convo covered:

-What Snapchat got wrong that TikTok gets right.
-Why (and how) she moved from Cosmopolitan to Head of Editorial at Snapchat.
-What made skincare a natural next step for her.
-Why Dieux Skin paid their brand designer in equity. (Loved this + took notes.) 😇💲
-How Charlotte plans (or doesn’t) her viral TikTok content. 📈
-The problem with “reef safe” sunscreen marketing

…and more.

Eye Dieux really hope you like it. (Had to. Not sorry.) 💛👁️

Follow Meredith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-farley/
Subscribe to the Content People Newsletter: https://meredithfarley.substack.com/

Follow Charlotte: 

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@charlotteparler?lang=enInsta - https://www.instagram.com/charlotteparler/reels/?hl=en
ShopMyShelf - https://shopmy.us/charlotteparler/shelves
Dieux Insta - https://www.instagram.com/dieuxskin/
Dieux TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dieuxskin?lang=en

Drew Brucker: Ever heard of him?

JK. If you're on LinkedIn, you probably know this dude.

Drew’s a razor-sharp marketer. A bleeding-edge Midjourney expert. And kind of famous here on LinkedIn.

I was so glad to get to pick Drew's brain for this week's ep of Content People.

We covered:

- Why Drew started posting on LinkedIn.

- What he thinks it takes to be successful on the platform.

- The podcasts that influenced his approach to content.

- Why staying up on AI is going to be imperative.

- How to engineer a career pivot. (Hint: Storytelling matters.)

Drew also walked me through the basics of Midjourney. And how he thinks it will massively transform marketing SOPs.

Follow and connect with Drew here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewbrucker/

Follow and connect with Meredith here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-farley/

Subscribe to the Content People newsletter here: https://meredithfarley.substack.com/

Ok. This is a BIG ONE.

This week’s guest is Dr Lindsay C. Gibson: A clinical psychologist and bestselling author who specializes in helping people identify and deal with emotionally immature people, or EIP’s.

Her book Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents was a breakthrough best-seller.

And she’s since followed it with a series of popular, related books, including: Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents, Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, and her latest work, Disentangling from Emotionally Immature People.

Dr Gibson has been featured on some really huge platforms - like the Ten Percent Happier podcast  - and her interview also happened to be one of their most popular episodes.

It was such a privilege to chat with her.

Our conversation focused specifically on dealing with EIPs in the workplace.

We covered:

• How Dr Gibson defines Emotionally Immature People (EIPs)
• And how to spot them in the wilds.
• How emotionally immature behavior might manifest at work.
• The workplace dynamics and patterns that Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents can be especially mindful of.
• How to spot an EIP in a job interview. (Hint: They don’t seem to have time for your questions. You already feel like a burden.)

Stay Up To Date via the Content People newsletter:
https://meredithfarley.substack.com/

Where to find Lindsay C. Gibson online:
Website: www.lindsaygibsonpsyd.com/

Books:

• Disentangling from Emotionally Immature People
• Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents.
• Who You Were Meant to Be: A Guide to Rediscovering Your Life's Purpose
• Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents: Practical Tools to Establish Boundaries and Reclaim Your Emotional Autonomy
• Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: Honor Your Emotions, Nurture Your Self, and Live with Confidence
  

Want to do a magic trick?

Imagine your favorite food.

How does that thought feel in your body?

Ok, nice job. Now think of your least favorite food.

How does that thought feel?

For me: Mac and cheese gives me warm, happy feelings. Cilantro (gross) - my stomach clenches and my throat tightens.

Tina Greenbaum LCSW, executive performance coach, and CEO of the Master Under Pressure  program, posed the above questions when I asked if there is anything leaders can do right at this moment  to get in touch with their intuition, inner wisdom and guidance at work.

TL;DR:
→ Situations that give you the favorite food feeling = things are in alignment.
→ Least-fave food feeling = something isn’t quite right. You might want to get curious about what’s happening below the surface (for you and for the other folks involved).

Tina was a wonderful guest. In addition to that nifty little food trick, we covered:

• Projection, transference, and why leaders are sometimes conflated with tricky parents.
• How breathwork expands your nervous system’s capacity for stress. And helps you make better decisions.
• The power of positive productive thinking.
• Why women at work need boundaries of steel.
• When feeling bored is helpful information.
• Her program, Mastery Under Pressure.

Subscribe to the Content People newsletter: https://meredithfarley.substack.com/

Follow Meredith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-farley/

Follow Tina:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinagreenbaum/
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masteryunderpressure/?hl=en

And check out her Mastery Under Pressure website here: https://masteryunderpressure.com/

Our next guest: Kirbie. Frickin. Johnson.

If you’re in or adjacent to the beauty industry, you know Kirbie:

Co-host of the chart-topping beauty podcast Gloss Angeles. Producer, writer, West Coast beauty editor and frequent contributor to little ‘ol outlets like Allure. Beauty soothsayer who shoots from the hip when it comes to marketing terms like “reef safe sunscreen” and “clean beauty.” Writer of the fantastic (and perfectly named) Ahead of the Kirb newsletter.

I was so thrilled to talk to Kirbie. I’ve been listening to her and co-host Sara Tan spill the tea on beauty products, brands and trends for nearly three years now.

Our convo covered:

• How SEO impacts the beauty brand product decisions 📈
• The power (and often the necessity) of a Founder’s Story for female-owned beauty brands
• Why Kirbie got into content - and how its changed across her career 
• What being the only journalist allowed BTS at Euphoria did to her TikTok algo ✨
• How TikTok, Youtube and Instagram all create different communities and require different content.

LINKS
Subscribe to the Content People newsletter here. https://meredithfarley.substack.com/

Find Kirbie... everywhere:
Her substack: https://kirbie.substack.com/
Her website: https://kirbiejohnson.com/
Her TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kirbiejohnson/video/7254257226972630318?lang=en
Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirbiejohnson/?hl=en
The Gloss Angeles Site: https://www.glossangelespod.com/episodes-blog